diff --git a/nuget/nuget_core/README.md b/nuget/nuget_core/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..22549a8f69
--- /dev/null
+++ b/nuget/nuget_core/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+# Data API builder Core Library for Azure Databases
+
+[![License: MIT](https://img.shields.io/badge/license-MIT-blue.svg)](https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT)
+
+## About
+
+**Microsoft.DataApiBuilder.Core** is the core engine library for [Data API builder](https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/data-api-builder/) (DAB). It provides the runtime components needed to generate and execute secure REST, GraphQL endpoints and MCP tools backed by Azure and other databases.
+
+This package is intended for developers who want to embed or extend the Data API builder engine within their own .NET applications or services.
+
+## Supported Databases
+
+- Azure SQL / SQL Server
+- Azure SQL Data Warehouse
+- Azure Cosmos DB (NoSQL)
+- PostgreSQL
+- MySQL
+
+## Key Capabilities
+
+- **REST API engine** — Automatically generates CRUD endpoints (POST, GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE) with filtering, sorting, and pagination
+- **GraphQL engine** — Generates queries and mutations with filtering, sorting, pagination, and relationship navigation
+- **MCP tool support** — Exposes DML and custom MCP tools for building SQL MCP Servers
+- **Authentication** — OAuth2/JWT and EasyAuth (Azure App Service / Static Web Apps)
+- **Authorization** — Role-based access control with item-level security via policy expressions
+- **Configuration-driven** — Define entities, permissions, and relationships in a JSON config file; no code required
+- **Multi-database** — Connect to multiple database types from a single instance
+- **Caching** — Built-in response caching with [FusionCache](https://github.com/ZiggyCreatures/FusionCache)
+
+## Installation
+
+```bash
+dotnet add package Microsoft.DataApiBuilder.Core
+```
+
+## Usage
+
+This library provides the core services and middleware used by the Data API builder runtime. Register the DAB services in your application's dependency injection container and configure them using a [DAB configuration file](https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/data-api-builder/reference-configuration).
+
+For a complete, ready-to-run experience, consider using the [`Microsoft.DataApiBuilder`](https://www.nuget.org/packages/Microsoft.DataApiBuilder) NuGet package or the [DAB CLI](https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/data-api-builder/how-to-install-cli).
+
+## Resources
+
+- [Official Documentation](https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/data-api-builder/)
+- [GitHub Repository](https://github.com/Azure/data-api-builder)
+- [Samples](https://aka.ms/dab/samples)
+- [Known Issues](https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/data-api-builder/known-issues)
diff --git a/src/Cli/Cli.csproj b/src/Cli/Cli.csproj
index 2f26b932ef..60c405e6a9 100644
--- a/src/Cli/Cli.csproj
+++ b/src/Cli/Cli.csproj
@@ -18,9 +18,9 @@
     <PackageLicenseFile>LICENSE.txt</PackageLicenseFile>
     <RepositoryType>git</RepositoryType>
     <PackageProjectUrl>https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=2224253</PackageProjectUrl>
-    <PackageTags>microsoft rest graphql api azure sql mssql mysql pgsql postgresql azure-sql sqlserver nosql cosmosdb dataApiBuilder</PackageTags>
+    <PackageTags>microsoft rest graphql mcp api azure sql mssql mysql pgsql postgresql azure-sql sqlserver nosql cosmosdb dataApiBuilder</PackageTags>
     <AssemblyName>Microsoft.DataApiBuilder</AssemblyName>
-    <Description>Data API builder for Azure Databases provides modern REST and GraphQL endpoints to your Azure Databases.</Description>
+    <Description>Data API builder for Azure Databases provides modern REST, GraphQL endpoints and MCP tools to your Azure Databases.</Description>
     <PackageIcon>nuget_icon.png</PackageIcon>
     <PackageReadmeFile>README.md</PackageReadmeFile>
     <EmbedUntrackedSources>true</EmbedUntrackedSources>
diff --git a/src/Core/Azure.DataApiBuilder.Core.csproj b/src/Core/Azure.DataApiBuilder.Core.csproj
index 2359f21a2e..517c88b4d5 100644
--- a/src/Core/Azure.DataApiBuilder.Core.csproj
+++ b/src/Core/Azure.DataApiBuilder.Core.csproj
@@ -4,7 +4,21 @@
     <TargetFrameworks>net8.0</TargetFrameworks>
     <ImplicitUsings>enable</ImplicitUsings>
     <Nullable>enable</Nullable>
+    <PackageOutputPath>./nupkg</PackageOutputPath>
+    <PackageId>Microsoft.DataApiBuilder.Core</PackageId>
+    <Title>Microsoft.DataApiBuilder.Core</Title>
+    <Authors>Microsoft</Authors>
+    <Copyright>© Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.</Copyright>
+    <PackageLicenseFile>LICENSE.txt</PackageLicenseFile>
+    <RepositoryType>git</RepositoryType>
+    <PackageProjectUrl>https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=2224253</PackageProjectUrl>
+    <PackageTags>microsoft rest graphql mcp api azure sql mssql mysql pgsql postgresql azure-sql sqlserver nosql cosmosdb dataApiBuilder</PackageTags>
+    <AssemblyName>Microsoft.DataApiBuilder.Core</AssemblyName>
+    <Description>Data API builder Core library for Azure Databases provides modern REST, GraphQL endpoints and MCP tools to your Azure Databases.</Description>
+    <PackageIcon>nuget_icon.png</PackageIcon>
+    <PackageReadmeFile>README.md</PackageReadmeFile>
     <EmbedUntrackedSources>true</EmbedUntrackedSources>
+    <PublishRepositoryUrl>true</PublishRepositoryUrl>
     <NoWarn>NU1603</NoWarn>
   </PropertyGroup>
 
@@ -45,4 +59,11 @@
     <ProjectReference Include="..\Service.GraphQLBuilder\Azure.DataApiBuilder.Service.GraphQLBuilder.csproj" />
   </ItemGroup>
 
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <None Include="..\..\nuget\nuget_core\README.md" Pack="true" PackagePath="\" CopyToOutputDirectory="PreserveNewest" />
+    <None Include="..\..\nuget\nuget_icon.png" Pack="true" PackagePath="\" />
+    <None Include="..\..\LICENSE.txt" Pack="true" PackagePath="\" CopyToOutputDirectory="PreserveNewest" />
+    <None Include="..\..\NOTICE.txt" Pack="true" PackagePath="\" Condition="Exists('..\..\..\NOTICE.txt')" CopyToOutputDirectory="PreserveNewest" />
+  </ItemGroup>
+
 </Project>